Door-opening mechanism.



C. H. WEIKERT.

DOOR OPENING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY8,1917.

1 ,280,9 l 6 Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY CHARLES H. WVEIKERT, OF LUCAN, MINNESOTA.

DOOR-OPENING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application led May 8, 1917. Serial No. 167,202.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WEIKERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lucan, in the county of Redwood and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Opening Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in door opening mechanisms and has for its object to provide an improved door opening and closing mechanism adapted to be auto- -matically operated upon .the approach of a vehicle and te automatically close the door upon the departure of the vehicle.

The invention has for a further object to provide an apparatus of a reliable, elicient and inexpensive nature for the purposes set forth.

With these and other objects in view which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming Aa part of this specification, in which Fi ure 1 is a view in oblique perspective of a oor opening mechanism embodying my invention, parts thereof being broken away to show the mechanisms more clearly,

Fig. 2 is a top plan sectional view of a portion of the operating mechanism,

Fig.l 3 is a partial sectional side elevation of the operatmg mechanism.

`pair lying immediately Like characters of reference indicate lik parts in the varius views.

In the drawings 1 designates a door frame to which a pair of doors 2 are hinged. The door frame which extends below the doors is secured to longitudinal members 3 of a frame 4. A horizontal bar'5 extends across the inclosure of the door frame immediately below the doors 2 and forms -a threshold therefor. The ends of the bar 5 are pivoted to the frame 1, as indicated by dotted lines at 5u in Fig. 2. A platform 6 has one end secured to the bar 5 which forms part of the platform. A second platform 6 is hinged to the bar 5, andthe platforms eX- tend in opposite directions therefrom. Said platforms constitute aroadway leading to and away from the doors. A second pair of platforms 7 are provided, one of said adjacent the outer end of each of said first mentioned pair of platforms. The outer ends of this second pair of platforms are hinged upon respective outlying transverse members 8 of the frame 4.

Intermediate transverse members 9 are provided in the frame 4,l said transverse members carryin horizontally disposed bearings 10 in w ich` rock shafts 11 are journaled. Each rock shaft has a platform supporting arm 12 formed thereon adapted toengage one of the adjacent platforms. The rock shafts have downwardly extending levers 13 formed at each end thereof. A vertical rock shaft 14 is journaled in bearings 15 on each side of thevdoor frame 1. An upper arm 16 is provided on each vertical rock shaftl and is connected, by means of an eye bolt 17 in which it is slidably inserted to its respective door. The vertical rock shafts 14 are also provided with lower arms 18.` A pair of connecting rods 19 have their ends pivoted to respective levers. 13 of one of the rock shafts 11, and have their other ends pivoted to respective lower arms 18. Coiled extension springs 20 have their ends connected to the levers 13 of said rock shaft, and have their other ends secured to respective bell crank levers 21 which are fulcrumed upon the respective longitudinal members 3. The other arms of said bellA crank levers 21 are pivotally connected to screw threaded rods 22 which extend through horizontally disposed eye ba'rs 23 secured upon respective longitudinal members 3. Nuts 24 are screw threaded upon said rods above the respective eye bars and serves to hold ysaid bell crank levers in any j adjustment. Lock nuts 25 .are provided to lock the nuts 24 in any adjustment. A pair of connecting rods 26 are provided having their o-ne ends pivotally connected to respective levers 13 of the other rock shaft 11 and have their other ends secured to respective brackets 27. Said brackets 27 have a clamp engagement with the connecting rods 19, and maybe adjusted longitudinally thereon. Metal cleats 28 are secured to the under surface of the platforms which are engaged by the arms 12 of the rock shafts 11 to reduce the friction of the platform and their supporting arms. The free ends of the platforms which are not engaged by the rock shafts 11 are provided with metal extensions 29, which extend over the edge of the adjacent platform, and said platforms are supported thereby. Stops 30 are provided on the intermediate transverse members 9 and serve to limit the downward movement of the platforms.

In thecoperation of the device the springs 20 normally.hold the doors closed. Vhen the doors are closed the platforms arein their upper positions. As the vehicle advances upon the outer platforms it depresses the same and this motion of the platforms is transmitted through the above described mechanism to open the doors against the influence of the springs 20. When the platforms are in their lowermost positions and rest upon the stops 30 the doors are wide open. As the vehicle proceeds through the doorway the front Wheels thereofl leave the depressed platforms and proceed farther upon the next platform. It will be noted that as the front wheels of a vehicle pass the horizontal bar 5 the rear wheels thereof are still in engagement with one of the platforms and the doors cannot shut. As the vehicle leaves the farthermost platform the platforms are allowed to rise and the doors close.` It will he noted thatby the above described construction a very simple and durable means is provided for automatically opening and closing doors, and that it may be manufacturedand installed at va very low cost.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with the spaced posts and the door hinged to the posts, of a plat# form extending horizontally outward from maaar@ other end to said lower arm, a second rodpivoted at one end to the other lever, an adjustable connection between the other end of the second mentioned rod, and the first mentioned rod, and a spring normally holding said door in the closed position.

2. In a devlce of the character' descrlbed.

the combination with'a swinging door, of a` pair of platforms hinged horizontally adjacent the door and extending outwardly on either side of said door, a rock shaft for each platform having an inclined arm supporting the outer'end of the respective platform, levers on Said rock shafts, a vertical rock shaft having an upper arm thereon connected to said door, a lower arm on said vertical rock shaft, .a rod connecting one of said levers and said lower arm, a second rod having one end pivoted to the other of said levers and having its other end connected to said first mentioned rod, and spring means for closing said door.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES H. WElKER-T. 

